Arsenal could now be set to receive a bid from a Premier League side for a player that Mikel Arteta has heavily praised of late.
Right now, it seems as if Arsenal’s transfer plans are in full flow, headlined by a bid for RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko, which could mark the beginning of their summer spending.
By now Mikel Arteta knows just how difficult it is to beat Manchester City to the league title, and just like the season itself, Arsenal will need to oversee a perfect window to overcome their new rivals.
Recruiting a new striker does seem a necessary starting point, but perhaps shouldn’t dictate Arsenal’s whole summer budget.
A new left-back and a new midfielder are also said to be high on Arsenal’s agenda.
To provide funds for and to make way for those signings, players will need to leave, explaining why Arsenal would listen to ‘good’ offers for Oleksandr Zinchenko this summer.
Of course, to sign the likes of Newcastle United’s Bruno Guimaraes or Aston Villa’s Douglas Luiz, Arsenal will also need to offload a midfielder or two.
Fulham readying bid for Arsenal’s Emile Smith Rowe after he becomes ‘priority’ target
Alongside the likes of Thomas Partey, it seems as if home-grown fan-favourite Emile Smith Rowe could depart the Emirates this summer.
And according to The Telegraph, Fulham are on high-alert to that possibility and are readying an approach in the coming weeks.
Marco Silva has made Smith Rowe his ‘priority signing’ and will surely be hoping that Arsenal budge on their previously reported £60m asking price.
Amid talk of the club selling Smith Rowe in January, pundit Gabriel Agbonlahor thought it wouldn’t be a popular decision, saying ‘Arsenal fans love him.’
But given Smith Rowe is now really on the periphery of things, and only likely to be set back further by summer signings, it does seem like a sensible time for the two parties to part ways.
Much like Arsenal’s firm stance on Aaron Ramsdale’s asking price this summer, the club shouldn’t let Smith Rowe leave cheaply, a player who was once on a similar path to Bukayo Saka.
It seems unlikely that Smith Rowe would be pushing to leave his boyhood team either, something that should strengthen Arsenal’s position.
All that being said, Arsenal could now face strong competition from Barcelona to land Arteta’s dream signing this summer.